Kapenguria residents protest regular power outages

Kapenguria residents have faulted KPLC for the persistent power outages in the area

Residents of Kapenguria town and its environs have expressed disgust at the frequent power outages in the area that have prevailed for the last one week and some have threatened to sue KPLC. The residents insist the outages are unbearable and it is affecting their businesses, and traders are incurring losses amounting to millions of shillings.

Some have urged KPLC to admit the liability, apologize and compensate them for the losses, warning that if the demands aren’t met they’ll face a court battle. “We want Kenya Power to explain to us why we have to suffer like this, and they don’t even give notices in advance. We’re counting losses because most our business can’t be handled without electricity,” be ran without power,” said David Ruto, who runs a cyber café business at Makutano town.

Mr. Ruto complained that KPLC has failed to reliably supply electricity to the general residents. The residents have also faulted County KPLC business manager Milimo Amusavi, who they accuse of sleeping on the job and have called for his removal.

However, according to an official from Kenya power in the area who sort anonymity, the blackout was caused by a breakdown on the power line in Kitale which affected the entire region. He said the problem was beyond them and they had to seek assistance from their counterparts in Kitale to sort out the problem. He assured residents that the problem had been solved and services had returned to normalcy by yesterday evening.

WestPokot County has been experiencing perennial power outages that have led to the loss of business and destruction of electrical appliances without government intervention. Even as locals from WestPokot County continue to experience the power outrage Turkwel Power Station is one of the major hydroelectric power stations. KPLC had earlier attributed the power outages to a power fault at Lessos sub-station which controls the whole region.